2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Guide

The 92nd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. ET and features some new balloon designs along with classic favorites. From Charlie Brown to Ronald McDonald, we’ve got your 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon guide up ahead.

A parade, fittingly, made the crowds. | Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Guide

What is Thanksgiving without Macy’s balloons? For the past 92 years, the department store has helped all of America ring in the holiday season with giant inflatables depicting favorite television, movie, and book characters. And, get this: Many of them are taller than a two-story building! Curious to know what balloons you’ll see in this year’s festivities? Here’s your 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Guide.

Yellow Macy’s Star

Sponsor: Macy’s

Macy’s star balloons are seen throughout the parade in different variations. But, perhaps its most famous star balloon is the Yellow Macy’s Star. The 25-feet tall, 12-feet deep, and 24-feet wide balloon requires 12 handlers as it makes its way down the parade route.

Universal Nutcracker

Sponsor: Universal Orlando Resort

Helping kick off the holiday season is the Universal Nutcracker. The 45-feet tall, 16-feet deep, and 18.5-feet wide balloon made its first parade appearance last year in the Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Orlando. This year, it’s headed to the big apple for a Thanksgiving debut.

Trolls

Sponsor: Dreamworks Animation and Universal Pictures

Trolls fans, get excited! The trolls are back this year with a balloon featuring Poppy, Branch, and Guy. The 38-feet tall, 57-feet long, 38-feet wide balloon showcases all three characters on their Caterbus, waiting to head down the parade route.

Toothless from ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’

Sponsor: Dreamworks Animation

Everyone’s favorite dragon is also making a Thanksgiving comeback. This year, catch Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and its 90 handlers flying down the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route.

The Elf on a Shelf

Sponsor: N/A

Santa’s favorite helper will also ring in the holiday season. The 46-feet tall, 64-feet long, 28-feet wide Elf on a Shelf will make an appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade just before the big man himself.

Spongebob Squarepants

Sponsor: Nickelodeon

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Spongebob Squarepants. And, in honor of the milestone, Nickelodeon will send Spongebob down the parade route for its 13th time. The 44-feet tall, 41-feet long, 34-feet wide blowout sponge and its 90 handlers will be a hit during Thursday’s festivities.

Ronald McDonald

Sponsor: McDonald’s

It wouldn’t be Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without Ronald McDonald. The 67-feet tall, 61-feet long, and 29-feet wide balloon first debuted in 1993 and is celebrating its 25th consecutive parade anniversary this year.

Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger

Sponsor: Hasbro

Another balloon celebrating its 25th anniversary? The iconic Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger. The giant balloon is the largest balloon on the parade route, measuring at 56-feet tall, 77-feet long, and 26-feet wide.

Red & Gold Macy’s Starflakes

Sponsor: Macy’s

You can expect to see a lot of stars on this year’s parade path. In addition to the yellow Macy’s stars, the Red & Gold Macy’s Starflakes will also make their way down the streets of New York City. Fun Fact: The Macy’s star balloons represent the parade’s color scheme.

Red ‘Believe’ Stars

Sponsor: Macy’s

The Red “Believe” Stars will also be en route down the streets of New York City this Thursday. “Believe” is Macy’s holiday theme.

Pillsbury Doughboy

Sponsor: Pillsbury

Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be the same without Pillsbury. This year, catch the company’s 46-feet tall, 54-feet long, and 34-feet wide mascot giggling down Manhattan. This balloon is so big that it would take over four million crescent rolls to fill the inflatable.

Pikachu

Sponsor: The Pokémon Company International

Pikachu has graced our TV screens (and the parade path) for 18 consecutive years. Dressed for the winter season in a green scarf with a snowman Pikachu, the 53-feet tall, 36-feet long, and 29-feet wide cartoon balloon is a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade must-see.

Paw Patrol

Sponsor: Spin Master Ltd. and Nickelodeon

Everyone’s favorite cartoon pup will also march down the parade route. The 43-feet tall, 60-feet long, and 36-feet wide Chase pup wears a police cap large enough to cover a police squad car.

Olaf

Sponsor: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Do you want to build an inflatable snowman? Frozen fans will be pleased to know that Olaf is returning this year in honor of Frozen The Broadway Musical. The 60-feet tall, 59-feet long, and 32-feet wide snowman will float down the streets of New York City Thanksgiving morning.

Jett by Super Wings

Sponsor: Alpha Group

Jett from Super Wings on Netflix and Universal Kids will also make its way down the parade route. The 31-feet tall, 47-feet long, and 39-feet wide inflatable requires 90 handlers and has a wingspan of an actual Learjet.

Illumination Presents Dr. Suess’ The Grinch

Sponsor: Illumination Entertainment

The Grinch is also ringing in the holiday season. Measuring at 37-feet tall, 49-feet long, and 24-feet, the updated design honor the new version of Dr. Suess’ The Grinch, in theaters in November.

Greg Heffley, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

Sponsor: Abrams Children’s Books

Greg Heffley also makes a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance. In celebration of the 13th book in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown, this is the 9th consecutive year for the 62-feet tall, 62-feet long, and 32-feet wide character.

Dino

Sponsor: Sinclair Oil Corporation

Dino is a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade classic. The 36-feet tall, 72-feet long, and 24-feet wide inflatable Apatosaurus made its first appearance in 1963 — 55 years ago!

Charlie Brown

Sponsor: Peanuts Worldwide

It wouldn’t be the same without a classic Peanuts character. This year, Charlie Brown will float down with his kite for another year of holiday fun. The balloon is 46-feet tall, 53-feet long, and 31-feet wide. Following the festivities, the beloved character will head over to NASA to help teach children about space exploration next year.

Blue & White Macy’s Stars

Sponsor: Macy’s

Can you spot the Blue & White Macy’s Stars? The fourth pair of stars will float down Manhattan in honor of the holiday season.

Americana Spheres

Sponsor: Macy’s

In addition to stars, Macy’s is debuting a new shaped balloon — the Americana Spheres. The round floats feature a blue and white star sphere and a red and white striped sphere to celebrate patriotism. Fun fact: The original idea for this design came from Macy’s designer Manfred Bass in the 1980s.

Sunny The Snowpal

Sponsor: Macy’s

This year’s newest balloon character is Sunny The Snowpal by Macy’s. The 27.8-feet tall balloon is based on a character created for the department store’s 2018 holiday campaign.

Little Cloud

Sponsor: Friendswithyou

Don’t miss the adorable Little Cloud balloon by Friendswithyou. The 22-feet tall balloon is new for 2018 but was originally created back 16 years ago by Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandovall III to represent light, tranquility, and unconditional love — something we can use a bit more of this holiday season.

Goku

Sponsor: Funimation

Goku from Dragon Ball is also making his Thanksgiving Day debut this year. The balloon is five stories tall and features a new design — Super Saiyan Blue form — in honor of the franchise’s new era.

Fleck, Bjorn, Jojo, and Hugg

Sponsor: Netflix

Fleck, Bjorn, Jojo, and Hugg from Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles are also new this year. The charming elves are each around 30 feet tall, require 40 handlers, and are the first-ever Netflix characters to march in the parade.

Arrtie The Pirate

Sponsor: Macy’s

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade also features a three-story tall pirate named Arrtie. The balloon is a remake of one of Macy’s classic balloons (popular in the 40s and 50s) as part of a heritage program that teaches kids about the history of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.